Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Best Selling in DVDs & Blu-ray Discs
Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Save on DVDs & Blu-ray Discs
The art, life & influence of one of the greatest Impressionist painters, Pierre August Renoir (1841-1919), is examined on this DVD. Here's a brief summary: Pierre Renoir received acclaim at the age of 33yo, when 6 of his paintings were hung in the 1st "Impressionist Exhibition" (1874). That same year 2 more of his paintings were shown in London with Durand-Ruel's. From 1881 thru 1882, Renoir traveled extensively to view the works of Delacroix, Velázquez, Titian & Raphael. After meeting composer Richard Wagner, Renoir painted Wagner's portrait on January 15, 1882, in 35 minutes! Renoir contracted pneumonia while traveling & spent 6 weeks, in 1882, trying to recover. But permanent damage was done to his respiratory system. Afterwards he spent a summer in Guernsey, in 1883. There he created 15 paintings in a month. The bay in St, Martin's, Guernsey inspired him to do a study of Moulin Huet while there. One of the Channel Islands of the English Channel, Guernsey's landscape is rich with bays, beaches, cliffs, forests & mountains. This collection of Renoir's paintings are depicted on a set of commemorative postage stamps issued by the Bailiwick of Guernsey in 1983, the 100th anniversary of their origination. Then, living & working in Montmartre, Renoir hired model Suzanne Valadon, to pose for "The Bathers" (1885-7) & "Dance at Bougival" (1883). Valadon also posted for many of Renoir's contemporaries while she studied their techniques. Consequently, Valadon herself became a leading painter of the era. When Queen Victoria celebrated her Golden Jubilee, in 1887, Renoir donated several paintings to the "French Impressionist Paintings" catalog as a gesture of his abiding loyalty. Pierre Renoir married Aline Victorine Charigot, in 1889, a woman who's modeled for "Les Déjeuner des canotiers" (1881)-(trans. "Luncheon of the Boating Party). The couple already had a son in 1885, whom they named Pierre. After marrying, Renoir painted numerous domestic scenes of his wife & every day family life. Their 3 sons, nurse & Aline's cousin, Gabrielle Renard, are subjects. Jean Renoir, one of their sons, became a notable filmmaker & eldest son Pierre became an early 20th century stage & film actor. Unfortunately, Renoir developed rheumatoid arthritis by 1887. As a result of degenerative symptoms, he moved to the warmer climate of "Les Collettes," a farm at Cagnes-sur-Mer, near the Mediterranean coast, in 1907. Even though Renoir's movement became severely limited by arthritis he remained wheelchair-mobile & continued to paint during the last 20 years of his life, with disabilities. Because Renoir developed degenerative hand deformities & ankylosis of his right shoulder, he adapted his painting technique! Although Renoir needed an assistant to place paint brushes in his ailing hand, he remained able to grasp & maneuver paint brushes. Late photographs of Renoir reveal that his hands were wrapped in bandages, reportedly to prevent skin irritation. This reviewer is a person with physically limiting disabilities who struggles to type & remain mobile for similar reasons. Renoir remains an inspirational figure for more reasons than being a world renowned Impressionist artist! This DVD includes new footage of the Renoir estate at Cagnes-sur-Mer~Read full review